Container for pictures and the like



July 6, 1943. F. R. FULLER CONTAINER FOR PICTURES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 11, 1941 3 Shams-Sheet 1 INVENTOR FRED RQFULLER HIS ATTORNEY Julv 6, 1943. F. R. FULLER CONTAINER FOR PICTURES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 11. 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FRED R. FULLER HIS ATTORNEY July 6, 1943. F. R. FULLER 2,323,532 CONTAINER FOR PICTURES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 11, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG/3 INVENTOR. FRED R. FULLER I I HIS ATTORNEY Patented July 6, 1943 was *s'r'rs rant OFFICE 2,323,532 CONTAINER FOR rrorunns AND Tan inn Fred R. Fuller, Bay Village, Ohio Application August 11, 1941, Serial No. 406,434

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a double frame mounting for photographs, postcards, and the like, and particularly to adouble face frame which is generally in the form of an envelope of'which the front and back are perimetrically extending endless margins in superposed face to face relation defining central aligned window openings which occupy the major portion ofthe overall extent of the front and back of the envelope, and in which the outermost edges of the front margin are connected to the outermost edges of the back margin at three edges of the frame and are un connected therewith on the other edge so as to provide an entrance opening by which photographs, arranged back to back, may be inserted in the frame. 4 I

Another object-is to provide a file comprising a plurality of such frames assembled together in superposed relation in such a manner that a book of double face mounting frames results.

Another object is to provide a series of frames of the character describedconnected end to end in a series such that the frames can be-folded into a compact pad or the series can be expanded partially and set on edge, in which position the series of frames is self-supporting.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following specification wherein reference is made to-the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a back plan view of a frame embodying the principles of the present invention and with a photograph inserted therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View showing. a plurality of frames connected together at their open ends to forma book and with a decorative covering thereon;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view of a pair of adjacent frames of Fig. 3 and illustrating the manner in which the same arelconnected; c

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of one of the frames on a suitable support (not claimed herein) by which the frame may be supported in upright position;

Fig. 6 is a verticalsectional View taken on the line 6-45 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is. a front. elevation of a pluralityof frames and a pedestal therefor; V.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 8'8 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of aplurality of the frames secured together; end to endyin-a series;

Fig. 10 is a front: elevation .of a modified form of the frame illustrated in Fig. 1

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view. of a plurality of frames such as illustrated in Fig. 10 and showing one step by which they are connected together;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the two frames shown in Fig. 11 illustrating a final stepv in connecting the frames together;

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of a plurality of the frames illustrated in Fig. 10 connected together in book form.

The frame comprises essentially an envelope, designated generally at I, from which the central portion of the front and back are cut out by die-cutting, or the like, to provide front andrear windows 2 and 3, respectively, of the desired shape. As a result of the die-cutting operation a double frame is provided which isrectangular and is in the form of a perimetrically extending endless front margin 4 and back margin 5, the margins 4 and 5 bein connected together at their outermost edges along three edges of the frame but being unconnected, as indicated at 6, at one edge of the desired frame, and the windows being of any shape desired.

At the unconnected edge, a flap 1 is provided, the'flap preferably being a continuationof the margin 2 adjacent the open end 6. The windows 2 and 3 occupy the major portion of the overall extent of the respective faces of the frame and the margins l and 5 are preferably of uniform width throughout their entire extent. The frame is of such size flatwise that two photographs A and B, may be inserted therein through the open end 6 back to back and fit snugly within the frame and be held lightly'in place by the frictional resistance. Thus each photograph is fully framed. 4

Likewise, the frame is of such. size flatwise as to accommodate a pair of negatives,-.from which the photographs were made, between the photographs so as to furnish a convenient storage space for the negative films used by amateur photographers.

Referring next to Figs. 3 and Lit is-desirable that the frame bearranged so that they? can be assembled togetherin book form conveniently and provide a file for photographs and photograph negatives. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the flap l of each frame is folded forwardly'until it overlies the front'face of the frame. If the frame is made from the usual envelope with the flap gummed for sealing. in. the usual manner, this disposes the flap against thefront face of the envelope with the gummed edge exposed for.- wardly. The flap 7 is then inserted into the open end of a duplicate frame positioned the same as the former and the'flap of the former is secured to the interior of the frontfacebfthe-duplicate frame by the gulnprovidedon the flapamAny .number of the frames may be assembled together in this manner successively and when the frames are superimposed by moving them in the manner that the leaves of a book are moved in closing a book, the flap of each frame overlies the open end of an adjacent frame and prevents the contents from dropping out of the adjacent frame. The flap of each frame is preferably of such length and shape that it lies between and is entirely concealed by the margins at the open end of the duplicate frame.

The assembled frames may be provided with the cover illustrated in Fig. 3 orrother appropriate cover device. The cover of Fig. 3 is in the form of two frame receiving pockets 8 of paper or other suitable material, each of which is open at one end and which are connected together at 7 frames is shown in connection with a supporting structure. The frame, indicated generally at H3, is such as described heretofore. In this form the flap of the frame at the open end is folded into the frame and in juxtaposition with the face of' the frame bywhich it is carried. The support, designated generally at l 5, comprises a single sheet of relatively stifi paper, thin metal, or light material which can be foldedby hand to provide two portions 52 which are juxtaposed in face to face relation. nected at one end l3 and are inserted, connected end foremost, in' the openend of the frame Hi.

:rne portions l2 are prefe'rably'fof. such width as to fit snugly or somewhat tightly"within'the frame between the photographs and negatives. The free endportions M of the support 1 hare bent outwardly atright angles, in opposite directions and thus, with the supporting portions [2, provide a pedestal which. is capable, of supporting the frame in upright position. The thickness of the frame flatwise is such that relatively stiff cards, photographs, menus, or the like, can be inserted into the frames'one on each side of the supporting portions 12.

Referring next to Figs. '7 and8, there trated a support ifihatdngthe usualsupporting leg id extending generally at right angles there,- to sothat the support is somewhat .in the form of an easel. The support has, a tongue portion ll connected to the support at one. edge of the tongue and being free on the other edges. This tongue may be insertedin-the open'endof' one ofthe frames or the open end of'an end one of a series of such framesiwhich are .inbook form; The tongue H preferably fits sufficiently tightly. to hold the frames. in place so thatin operative effect. abook is supported on the support i in such manner that..each page. or each face of each frame can be exposed toview.

In Fig. 9 a plurality of the ffame's iii are shown as connectedthgetherpend 'toendyin a series. This is accomplished'by securing the flap .of'ea'ch frame to the adjacent frame'at'theclosedend of the latter. Thus the connected; seriesiof frames [8 .is somewhat in thefor'm 'ofan accordion .pleat so that the frames. can bepartially spread apart as illustrated, and can rest onone edge'and be self-supported.

Referring next to Figs. 10 to 12, a modification of the frame illustrated in Fig. 1 is shown. The

These portions are conis illus- 1 frame, designated generally at 2|, is the same as the frame illustrated in Fig. 1 except that the flap 22 at the open end is somewhat longer and may be as long as the inside of the envelope. Likewise, the flap 22 is out along lines, such as indicated at 23 and 25, in order to provide a tongue, indicated at 25.

As illustrated, particularly in Figs. 11 and 12,

the frames are assembled in the following mantially equal to the width of the margin of the duplicate frame is folded over the back ofthe margin of the duplicate frame into the space between the front and back margins of the duplicat frame adjacent the open end of the duplicate frame.

Obviously, photographs C and D are inserted back to back in the frames before the insertion of the tongue 25 and these help to hold the free end of the tongue 25 securely in place, thus connecting the frames together.

' In this manner any number of frames can be connected securely together without glue or any other permanent fastening, yet they can be readily disconnected when manipulated in the'proper manner. This is accomplished by pulling the free end of tongue 25 from between the margins of the adjacent duplicate frame and then sliding the frames apart.

If desired, the cover of Fig. 3 may be used with frames of which the front frame has a flap equal in length to the length of the frame'and of which the rear frame has attached to it aflap equal in length to the frame. In such a case, the flaps. instead of the front and rear frames, are inserted in th pockets respectively.

It should be borne in mind that the flaps on the front and rear frames of themselves provide effective front and rear covers. for the assembled frames and that an effective and attractive book of frames can be provided without any special cover device.

I claim: 1

l. A mounting book comprising a plurality of double face mounting frames for photographs, each of said frames being in the form of arectangular envelope of which the front and back are perimetrically extending endless margins in superposed face to face relation defining aligned central window openings which occupy the major portion of the overall extent of the front and back of the envelope, the front and back margins being connected together at their outer edges along three sides of the frame and being unconnected along the remaining side of the frame to provide an entrance into the interior of the frame, and a flap extending from one of the margins at the unconnected edge thereof and of less Width throughout its entire length than the width of the margin from which it extends and shaped to be received in the entrance passage, said frames being assembled in book form with the flap of each extending into the entrance passage of an adjacent duplicate frame and the flap being secured to one margin of the duplicate frame into which it extends for holding the frames in assembled relation in book form.

2. A mounting book comprising a plurality of double face mounting frames for photographs, each of said frames being in the form of a rectangular envelope of which the front and back are perimetrically extending endless margins in superposed face to face relation defining aligned central window openings which occupy the major portion of the overall extent of the front and back of the envelope, the front and back margins being connected together at their outer edges along three sides of the frame and being unconnected along the remaining side of the frame to provide an entrance into the interior of the frame, and a flap extending from one of the margin at the unconnected edge thereof and shaped to be received in the entrance passage of a duplicate frame and concealed by the margins of the duplicate frame at the entrance end of the duplicate frame, the flap of each frame extending into the entrance passage of an adjacent frame and being secured to that margin of the adjacent frame which has a flap thereon for binding the frames together in book form, whereby the flap of each frame overlies the entrance passage of the frame to which it is secured.

3. A frame according to claim 1 characterized further in that the flap is on the unconnected margin of the front of the frame and adhesive material is provided on the rear face of the flap, whereby the flap may be folded into overlying relationship to the front of the frame and, in said position, exposes the adhesive material forwardly of the frame for attachment to the inner face of the front of a duplicate frame, when the flap is inserted into the entrance of the duplicate frame, so that a plurality of the duplicate frames may be connected together in juxtaposition with the back of each overlying the front of an adjacent frame.

4. A mounting book as claimed in claim 1 and in which the frames are arranged in juxtaposition with the back of each frame overlying the front of the next adjacent frame, from front to rear of the series, the fiap of each frame being disposed between the unconnected margins of the forwardly adjacent frame and concealed thereby, and adhered to the inner face of the front one of the margins between which it is inserted when the duplicate frames are superposed with their window openings in alignment.

5. A book of duplicate frames, said frames being arranged face to face with the back of each overlying the front of the next adjacent frame, in order from front to rear, each frame having an outwardly extending flap which is a continuation of its front face, the flap of each being received in the forwardly adjacent frame and secured to the inside of the front thereof, each frame having window openings in its front and back, respectively, said windows being aligned with each other and being, in size, the greater portion of the area of the front and back, respectively, and being geometrically similar to the front and back of the frame in outline and located so that only a relatively narrow endless marginal double frame is provided by each envelope.

6. A cover for a book of connected duplicate frames according to claim 5, said cover comprising two open ended pockets of thin sheet material connected together at their open ends with the openings at said ends spaced apart endwise of the cover, said pockets being adapted to accommodate the front and rear frames, respectively, of the book, with the connecting portion which is between the pockets overlying the open ends of the frames.

'7. A double face mounting frame for photographs, said frame being in the form of a rectangular envelope of which the front and back are perimetrically extending endless margins in superposed face to face relation defining aligned central window openings which occupy the major portion of the overall extent of the front and back of the envelope, the front and back margins being connected together at their outer edges along three sides of the frame and being unconnected along the remaining side of the frame to provide an entrance into the interior of the frame, and a flap extending from one of themargins at the unconnected edge thereof and shaped to be received in and being of a width to fit snugly Within the entrance passage of a duplicate frame and having a tongue struck out of the transverse midportion of the flap and connected to the flap at the end of the flap adjacent the frame.

8. A plurality of duplicate envelope frames of thin material and arranged face to face withthe back of each overlying the front of the next adjacent frame in order from front to rear, each frame having an outwardly extending flap which is a continuation of the front face, the flap of each frame being received in the next forwardly adjacent frame, each frame having window openings in its front and back respectively, said windows being aligned with each other and being in size the greater portion of the area of the front and back, respectively, so that only a relatively narrow marginal endless double frame is provided by each, each flap snugly fitting within the forwardly adjacent frame, and means securing the flap to the envelope in which it is received.

9. A plurality of duplicate envelope frames of thin material and arranged face to face with the back of each overlying the front of the next adjacent frame in order from front to rear, each frame having an outwardly extending flap which is a continuation of the front face, a flap of each frame being received in the next forwardly adjacent frame, each frame having window openings in its front and back respectively, said windows being aligned with each other and being in size the greater portion of the area of the front and back, respectively, so that only a relatively narrow marginal endless double frame is provided by each, each fiap snugly fitting within the-forwardly adjacent frame, and means securing the flap to the envelope in which it is received, said means comprising a tongue struck out of the flap and integrally connected thereto at the end of the flap which lies adjacent the frame from which said fiap extends, said tongue overlying the rear face of an adjacent frame in which the fiap is received and the free end of the tongue being folded over the margin of said rear face and disposed with its free end between the front and rear margins of the adjacent frame at the open edge thereof for securing the frames together.

FRED R. FULLER. 

